Before I know it, thirty minutes and about three miles have passed, and I’m sweating like crazy. I slow the belt down to walk for five minutes, then hop off, reaching for my water. I look to my right where Luke was but he’s gone.
I frown and search across the gym looking for him. I don’t immediately see him, so I gather my towel, tuck my phone into my bra and wander out among the free weights.
“Can I help you find something?” I whirl around at the deep voice and then grin.
“Brad! Hey, how’s it going?”
“Good.”
He pats me on the shoulder, gripping me for just a few seconds longer than polite, and continues to smile widely.
“I haven’t seen you in here before.
Thinking of joining?”
“Oh, I’m here with someone today.”
“Cool. Can I get you some water, or a fresh towel?”
“You must work here.” I mutter dryly.
“Oh, yeah, I do. Hey, I can show you how to use some of the weights if you want.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Both Brad and I twirl at the sound of Luke’s cold voice.
“Hey.” Brad smiles at Luke and holds out his hand. “I didn’t introduce myself yesterday. I’m Brad.”
Luke shakes his hand and gives him a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Luke.”
Brad’s eyes widen and he swallows.
“Holy shit, you’re Luke Williams.”
Luke’s smile doesn’t falter. “Yes, I am.”
“Well, um…” Brad gives me a quizzical glance then smiles back at Luke. “It’s nice to meet you. Catch you later, Natalie.” He nods at me and disappears among the weights.
“So it seems Brad is more than a friend of a friend.” Luke turns to me, his eyes cold and distant.
Shit.
“No, that’s exactly what he is.”
“Didn’t look that way.”
“How did it look?” I back away from him and cross my arms across my chest.
“It looked like he was picking you up.”
I shake my head adamantly. “He is just a flirty guy, Luke. He was being nice. I was looking around for you.”
“I got a phone call. I have to leave, I’m sorry. I have to run home and do some work.”
“Fine, let’s go.”
“Do you have to work today?” He opens my car door for me and I slide in.
“No,” I respond when he’s behind the wheel. “I have today off.”
“You’re welcome to come home with me.” How can he go from being pissed off and
jealous
to
sweet
and
accommodating?
“That’s okay, just take me home.”
“Are you mad at me?” His voice is soft and I can’t look him in the face.
“Yes. Are you always going to overreact whenever a man speaks to me?”
“He’s had his hands on you twice in two days, Natalie. He wasn’t just speaking to you.”
“But I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“He wants in your pants and you didn’t do anything to dissuade him.”
“Luke, I’m more than capable of saying no. Trust me, that’s all I’ve said all my adult life. Until you.” My voice is raised in my frustration. Doesn’t he see that I’m mad about him? That I don’t want anyone else?
“I will never be okay with another man putting his hands on you. Get used to it.” His voice is sharp and his eyes are so cold.
He pulls up in front of my house and I jump out without waiting for him to open the door. He leaps out of his side and follows me up to the front porch.
“Go home, Luke. Go work.” I shove my key in the lock and turn it but his large hand covers mine so I can’t turn the nob.
“Natalie, don’t be mad at me.”
“Don’t be mad at you? I may be your girlfriend, but I’m not your property.”
“I didn’t say you are.” He backs up as if I’ve slapped him.
“Brad’s just a flirty kid. Trust me; nothing is ever going to happen with him.”
His eyes flare at Brad’s name again and I want to kiss him for caring enough to be jealous, and smack the shit out of him for being so jealous he’s almost blind with it.
I take a deep breath and decide to change tactics.
“Remember yesterday when you compared seeing Brad and me on that bed in the studio with seeing you onscreen in a love scene?”
“Yeah.” He runs a hand through his hair and looks thoroughly frustrated.
“Am I supposed to get jealous every time a fan fawns all over you? They all want in your pants. All of them. They fantasize about fucking you and wooing you and about you being their boyfriend.
Trust me, those girls have all spent more time thinking about you than I care to think about.”
He starts to speak, but then closes his mouth and shakes his head.
“Don’t you dare say that it isn’t the same thing. A crush is a crush is a crush. Brad has as much a chance getting in my pants as any one of those pathetic women has getting into yours.”
He exhales loudly. “Well, I guess I can see your point.”
“Go work. I’m going to take a shower.”
“Are you still mad at me?” He closes the gap between us and grips my hand in his tightly.
“A little. I’ll get over it. Go work and call me later.”
“Okay.” He bends down and runs his lips lightly over mine, then pushes his fingers in my hair and pulls me to him, kissing me deeply, as if his apology is in his kiss and I can’t help but melt against him.
“You make me crazy,” I murmur against his lips.
“Ditto, baby. I’ll talk to you tonight.”
He leaves me on the porch and I watch him slip into his sleek black SUV. He smiles and waves and pulls out of my driveway.
I’ve fallen in love with a beautiful, sexy, sweet, jealous control freak.
Shit.
***
Jules is in the kitchen when I go inside. I slam my purse on the breakfast bar and yank the fridge open looking for a water.
“Well, hello sunshine,” Jules says sarcastically.
“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
“I’m working from home. Hey, you’re really pissed. What happened?” She plants her hands on her hips and scowls at me, and I immediately feel better.
“He just irritated me at the gym. Luke has a jealous streak.”
“Scary jealous, or sexy jealous?”